The evening light at Mono Lake is often relatively plain. There can be a band of color close to the horizon right around sunset, and that color reflects in the waters of the lake. But the direct sunset light doesn’t make it to the lake or the surrounding mountains since it is block by the massive Sierra Nevada crest just to the west. Often we see a little bit of color… and a lot of somewhat dim sky. But when clouds appear, all bets are off.
Continue reading Black Point, Mono Lake, Sunset
While walking through Bath we saw the light hit the wall of this building just right, making the sign for an old business easy to read. By enlarging the image I am able to just make out some additional words that give hints about what might have been here originally: “Hay Hill Dairy. Devon and Dorset Butter Merchant. Cheese Ham & Bacon Factor. Cream Butter Eggs. Devonshire cream…” and a few more that I cannot decipher.
Continue reading Hay Hill Dairy
This photograph combines two types of subjects that fascinate and challenge me — post-color aspens and finding compositions in complexity. While the intense colors of peak-autumn aspen leaves are undeniably appealing, I also like the stage right after that when most of the leaves are gone and the skeletal white trunks are fully revealed. I also enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out how to photograph extremely complex and detailed subjects like this dense grove of small trees.
Continue reading Almost Bare
Timing is everything when it comes to photographing fall aspen color in the Sierra Nevada. (Well, OK, some location knowledge helps, too…) The most basic element is determining when the color peaks. That can be complicated, as it varies depending on elevation, the type of terrain, and the weather. And, to be honest, there’s almost always a bit of luck involved. When I search for color I rely on a lot of hunches based on past experience and observations of current conditions.
Continue reading Aspen Row